Chapter Text
Laurel finds the feeling of waking up next to someone to be better than she remembered. It has been a while for her.
Mari is still sleeping beside Laurel, so she takes this time to enjoy it. Mari really is beautiful. She's also funny and kind and she really cares about her people in Detroit. That is an issue they'll need to deal with. But not right now. Laurel still has some time before she needs to get to work, so if Mari wakes up soon, they could have a nice morning together before Mari will leave back to Detroit.
Laurel decides to hasten Mari's waking up a bit, to make sure they'll have time. In honor of how their relationship developed, she takes her phone and sends Mari a good morning text. The sounds does wake Mari up and she gives Laurel a questioning look. Laurel just smiles while looking at her phone.
"I think you should check your messages," she says coyly.
Mari laughs and shakes her head but she does take her phone.
Laurel: Good morning :) . I had a great time last night ;). Can I get a kiss?
Mari shakes her head a bit again, this time to better wake herself up. Then she turns to Laurel, puts her hand on Laurel's neck and pulls her her head down to a kiss. Laurel's hands bury themselves in Mari's hair and they end up making out for minutes.
When their lips break apart, Laurel lets out a happy sigh. Mari is grinning widely.
"I kinda wish you didn't have to go," Laurel whispers. "I mean, I know why you have to go, and one of the biggest cases of my life is starting soon and I have to prepare, but... It's so nice... being like this."
Mari strokes Laurel's cheek. "I know what you mean. I want this, us. But it is going to be complicated. Long distance relationships always are."
Laurel turns, gives Mari's palm a kiss. "God, we shouldn't be having this conversation before coffee. I'll go make some."
Mari watches Laurel disappear to her kitchen, wearing only a long men's shirt (Oliver's? just something she bought to sleep in?). She rubs her eyes. She is still tired. Yesterday was a busy day. She knows she needs to get back to Detroit today. Laurel will be busy with the Darhk trial, and Mari has a city to protect.
Soon, Laurel is back, leaning on her door frame with a cup of coffee in hand.
"Coffee's ready. I don't know how you take it," Laurel smiles a bit sheepily. Mari smiles back, "I'll be right there."
Laurel turns back, sipping her coffee. Mari stretches and gets up. She doesn't change out of her pyjamas yet.
As she walks to the kitchen, Mari takes in Laurel's place. She didn't really have time for that the night before. It's quite nice.
Laurel is sitting on the kitchen table, drinking her coffee and reading the newspaper. It looks like she is concentrating really hard and it makes her look so cute. Mari goes to the coffee pot, Laurel has left her a plain white mug that she can use. Mari finishes the pot, adds a little milk and a couple of sugar. She takes a sip of her coffee. Mm, Laurel is a good at coffee, too. She leans on her elbows on the kitchen table, staring at Laurel and sipping her coffee. She could get used to this.
Laurel looks up from behind her newspaper and gives Mari a smile. This is so... nice and domestic. She hasn't had this in so long. She puts down her finished paper and sighs happily. Mari walks to her and they share another, coffee-flavored, kiss. Afterwards, Mari takes a next to Laurel. They need to talk.
"I need to be at work within the hour. This Damien Darhk trial is really important and it's going to eat up all my time. Otherwise I'd ask you to stay longer."
"I know. I really shouldn't be away from Detroit for too long, either. They are starting to count on me." Neither of them wants to say it, but they both know they have to. Mari takes the plunge, "So... How are we going to do this?"
Laurel takes Mari's hand and squeezes it gently. She gives her an encouraging smile. "We'll continue doing this the way we did before this. We'll talk and write and try to meet us often as possible. But right now, I'm needed here, in Star City, and you need to go back to Detroit. We'll make this work, for now."
Mari shares Laurel's smile, "Alright. We'll make it work."
They kiss again, but then it is time for both of them to get dressed and get ready to leave. Mari has a long fly to Detroit and Laurel has a lot of things to do. Mari leaves first. They share one last kiss by Laurel's door. The situation is not ideal, but they'll make it work, for now.